Coronavirus (Covid-19) Policy and Procedures
This policy has been written to cover the operational procedures necessary to enable Amber Support Specialist Respite Care to protect Service Users from the risks presented by coronavirus (Covid-19) infection.
It includes:
- Information provision
- Travel requirements
- Infection control and prevention procedures
- Health and social distancing
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Self-isolating Service Users
- Business continuity procedures
- Pandemic recovery planning.
What is Coronavirus?
The World Health Organisation defines coronaviruses as a family of viruses that cause infectious illness ranging from very mild to very severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). Covid-19 is a new strain which originated in China at the end of 2019. It has since spread worldwide, initiating a global pandemic public health emergency.
How is Coronavirus Spread?
People can catch Covid-19 from others who have the virus. It is understood that the virus is highly infectious and moves from person to person in droplets from the nose or mouth which are spread when a person with Covid-19 coughs or exhales. In addition, the virus can survive for up to 72 hours out of the body on surfaces. People can catch Covid-19 if they breathe in the droplets or touch infected surfaces and then touch their eyes, nose or mouth.
What Are the Symptoms?
The NHS recognises the key symptoms of Covid-19 infection as high temperature (fever), a new, continuous dry cough, and/or loss or change to the sense of smell or taste. All three main symptoms may appear, or just one or two. Some people may have tiredness, aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhoea. Symptoms begin gradually and are usually mild. Most people (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing special treatment. A small percentage can become seriously ill and develop difficulty breathing. This is particularly dangerous for people with weakened immune systems, for older people, and for those with long-term conditions such as diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease. Some of Amber Support Specialist Respite Care clients will clearly be vulnerable to being seriously ill if they are infected by the virus.
Information
Amber Support Specialist Respite Care will keep up to date with the latest public health and government information about the risk of coronavirus in the UK. The management of Amber Support Specialist Respite Care is the infection control lead for the company and will maintain close links with local health protection teams and will be responsible for circulating essential information to clients and their families. Amber Support Specialist Respite Care will comply fully with official advice, including Coronavirus (COVID-19): provision of home care, published by Public Health England.
Infection Control and Prevention Procedures
Amber Support Specialist Respite Care believes that general adherence to high standards of infection prevention and control is the best way to prevent the person-to-person spread of pathogens such as coronavirus and maximise the safety of clients and their families. To achieve this Amber Support Specialist Respite Care infection control policies and procedures will be implemented in full, especially those related to effective hand hygiene, sanitisation and environmental cleaning.
Amber Support Specialist Respite Care
- Cover their mouth and nose with a tissue or their sleeve (not their hands) when they cough or sneeze
- Put used tissues in the bin immediately
- Wash their hands with soap and water regularly for 20 seconds and use hand sanitiser gel
- Try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell
- Avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
- Amber Support Specialist Respite Care carries appropriate resources such as hand sanitiser gels that contain at least 60% alcohol.
Amber Support Specialist Respite Care will comply fully with all existing infection control and prevention guidance, including the Health and Social Care Act 2008: Code of Practice for Health and Adult Social Care on the Prevention and Control of Infections and Related Guidance.
Staying Home and Social Distancing
At the height of the pandemic, the Government announced a countrywide “lockdown” with the temporary closure of places where people gather and meet. People were urged not to travel and to stay at home. They were permitted to go outside only when shopping for necessities, such as food and medicine, for medical or care needs, for example to help a vulnerable person, and to exercise once a day. While out they were asked to observe “social distancing” rules which involves keeping a safe distance of at least two metres from others not in the same household.
Vulnerable people, including those aged 70 and over, were advised to be particularly stringent in staying at home and following social distancing measures when outside. The lockdown was considered essential to halt the spread of the virus. Once infection rates were low enough it was progressively eased but on the basis that people still follow current “social distancing” rules. Restrictions may be reimposed on a regional basis if transmission rates increase.
Amber Support Specialist Respite Care will ensure that all current public health messages relating to staying home and social distancing are passed on to clients and relatives. Amber Support Specialist Respite Care will observe social distancing where possible when not providing direct personal care and when interacting with each other.
Self-isolation
Government strategy is to ask people to self-isolate in their homes where they have symptoms of Covid-19 infection or think that they might have the virus.
If Lesley-Anne Lloyd is unwell with suspected Covid-19 or have come into contact with an infected individual she will not come to work but will comply with the latest government advice about self-isolating themselves in their home.
The guidance states that:
- People who have symptoms of infection (new continuous cough and/or high temperature and/or loss of sense of taste or smell — however mild) and live alone should self-isolate by staying at home and not leaving their house for 7 days from when the symptoms started
- Those who live with others and one person has symptoms should self-isolate as a household for 14 days from the day when the first person in the house became ill.
“High-risk” Individuals
Amber Support Specialist Respite Care is aware that the Government has published guidance on the protection of people who have conditions that make them “high-risk”. Guidance on shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable from COVID-19, will be constantly reviewed and included in in care planning and care provision as required. High-risk individuals are subject to special “shielding” arrangements.
Care Planning
During the pandemic crisis Amber Support Specialist Respite Care will keep client care plans under constant review to ensure that their needs are being met. We will work closely with relatives/carers and with care and health partners and charities/community support groups. Where necessary arrangements will be established with other professional organisations with reference to our existing information sharing and adult safeguarding policies. Plans for mutual aid may be agreed which reduce the number of different people visiting a certain individual, especially those who are considered at risk or subject to shielding arrangements.
Providing Care
Amber Support Specialist Respite Care will follow relevant guidance on the care of people during the pandemic, including Coronavirus (COVID-19): provision of home care published by Public Health England (PHE).
The Guidance states:-
- If anyone being cared for by a home care provider reports developing Covid-19 symptoms they should be supported to contact NHS 111 via telephone, or online
- Amber Support Specialist Respite Care will report suspected cases of Covid-19 to community partners, commissioners and the person involved to review their care needs
- In all cases care Amber Support Specialist Respite Care will follow infection control best practice, desanitising/washing hands frequently and using personal protective equipment (PPE) appropriately. Frequently touched surfaces should be cleaned regularly with household detergent and/or bleach.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Amber Support Specialist Respite Care will use all personal protective equipment (PPE) as directed in our infection prevention and control policies. We will also comply with the following Public Health England (PHE) guidance.
- COVID-19 personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Considerations for acute personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages
Amber Support Specialist Respite Care is aware that COVID-19: Personal protective equipment (PPE) — resource for care workers delivering homecare (domiciliary care) during sustained COVID-19 transmission in England provides guidance about periods when there is considered to be “sustained transmission” of the Covid-19 virus. This covers periods when the virus is assessed to be common in the community and Amber Support is likely to come into contact with it during their routine work. At such times additional safeguards are advised.
The guidance states that, during sustained transmission periods:
- Amber Support Specialist Respite Care should wear disposable gloves, a disposable plastic apron and a fluid-repellent surgical mask whenever providing personal care which requires them to be in direct contact with a client (eg touching) or where they are within two metres of anyone in a household who is coughing
- The recommendations apply whether the client being cared for has Covid-19 symptoms or not, and includes all clients, including those in the “extremely vulnerable” group
- Eye protection may also be needed where there is risk of droplets or secretions from the client’s mouth, nose, lungs or from body fluids reaching the eyes (eg caring for someone who is repeatedly coughing or who may be vomiting)
- Amber Support Specialist Respite Care always wear a disposable mask which is new for each client.
- Disposable gloves and aprons are “single-use” only and should be disposed of after every episode of care. Hands should be washed and sanitised after PPE removal.
Testing
Amber Support Specialist Respite Care will access coronavirus testing as necessary. All frontline social staff are classified as “essential workers” and are eligible for such tests. Those who are self-isolating can book a test directly, selecting a regional test site drive-through appointment or a home test kit. Employers can book tests through an employer referral test booking route.
Travel Restrictions
Travelling is now much reduced due to countries around the world closing their borders. Amber Support Specialist Respite Care will comply with any current official government. Latest travel advice can be found on the GOV.UK website.
Business Continuity Procedures and Pandemic Recovery Planning
In addition to Amber Support Specialist Respite Care’s general business continuity and recovery planning policies, we recognise the need to have a separate pandemic recovery plan and procedure. This is because a general continuity recovery plan focuses on a short-term recovery programme. In contrast, the effects of the pandemic could last many months.
Therefore Amber Support Specialist Respite Care contingency measures will be implemented.
- A communications strategy will be developed to ensure that clients and their families are provided with up-to-date and accurate information on the status of the pandemic and on Amber Supports response.
- Every effort will be made to provide the information to clients in a format that they can understand. We recognise that the current crisis will be upsetting and worrying for clients and their relatives.
- Training will utilise online e-learning and other electronic forms where possible.
- Staff will be informed of any additional measures to limit the spread of disease in a pandemic situation — this might include: Avoiding unnecessary travel, Cancellation of face-to-face meetings, Working from home where possible
- Essential services will be prioritised.
- Advice will be provided for vulnerable clients on steps to take to protect themselves.
- Care plans will be reviewed to identify clients most at risk in case of service disruption. As a contingency measure.
Managers will be responsible for ensuring that everyone understands the pandemic recovery plan policy and procedure. The procedure aims to ensure that Amber Support Specialist Respite Care will be able to continue to provide care to its clients during any disruption caused by a pandemic.
Monitoring and Review
This policy will be continuously monitored and updated to take account of any changes to the official advice provided relating to coronavirus.
Signed:
Date updated: 20th February 2023
Policy Review Date: All Policies are reviewed annually, or more frequently, as necessary.